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动态 (4985)
Miss Chen
2018年02月04日
Miss Chen
Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 2-3½' tall, branching sparingly. The slender stems are round and hairless. The alternate compound leaves occur sparingly along the stems; they are doubly pinnate, and about 8" long and half as wide. The slender leaflets are up to 1/8" (3 mm.) across. They often have 1-3 lobes, but their margins are smooth. The upper stems terminate in compound umbels with small white flowers. A typical umbel is about 6" across and has about 12 umbellets; these umbellets are loosely arranged, rather than compressed together. An umbellet is about 1" across and has 7-21 flowers. Each flower is about 1/8" (3 mm.) across, with 5 white petals that are notched in the middle, and 5 green sepals that are small and triangular. There are also up to 5 white stamens with 5 white anthers that are potentially observable; frequently, there appears to be fewer than 5 of these reproductive structures because they are fragile and short-lived. The blooming period occurs during early summer and lasts about 2 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. The root system is tuberous, which enables this plant to develop quickly during the spring and early summer. After blooming, it quickly fades away and becomes dormant for the rest of the year. Cultivation: The preference is light shade to full sun, and moist to slightly dry conditions. Wild Dill often grows in soil that is rich and loamy; it also tolerates some clay or rocky material. This plant should be cultivated more often in wildflower gardens.
Range & Habitat: The native Wild Dill occurs occasionally in NE and central Illinois, but it is rare or absent elsewhere (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic black soil prairies, openings or edges near woodlands, areas along woodland paths, thickets, limestone glades, and bluffs. It often grows in grassy areas, but is easy to overlook, except during the short blooming period. This plant is more typical of high quality habitats than disturbed areas. Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts many small bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. Among the flies, are such visitors as biting midges, Syrphid flies, thick-headed flies, Tachinid flies, flesh flies, bottle flies, Muscid flies, Chloropid flies, and others. Among the wasps, are such unusual visitors as cuckoo wasps and various parasitoid wasps, including the Chalcid, Perilampid, Eucoilid, Figitid, and Ichneumonid wasps. Little is known about this plant's relationship to mammalian herbivores; because the foliage is not known to be toxic, it is probably consumed by them occasionally.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, and at Prospect Cemetery Prairie in Ford County, Illinois. Comments: This is an ethereal plant that is lovely while in bloom; unfortunately, this doesn't last very long. From a distance, Wild Dill may appear to be an early blooming Daucus carota (Wild Carrot), but closer inspection of the foliage and flowers will reveal significant differences between these two plants. What sets Wild Dill apart from many other white-flowered members of the Carrot family is the season of bloom (early summer) and the slender, delicate leaves (not wider than 1/8" across). Also, it should not be confused with Anethum graveolens (Cultivated Dill); this familiar annual herb from the Old World has yellow flowers. Another common name for Perideridia americana is 'Thicket Parsley.'
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Miss Chen
2018年02月04日
Miss Chen
Description: This perennial plant is 2-3' tall, forming one or more unbranched flowering stalks. The central stem is light green, glabrous, and terete. Pairs of opposite leaves develop along the lower half of this stem; they are up to 5" long and 2" across, deltate-ovate to oblong-lanceolate in shape, and smooth to slightly toothed along their margins. Between the leaves on the lower stem and the inflorescence, the central stem is usually naked; sometimes pairs of small narrow leaves (1" long or less) can be found along the upper stem that resemble bracts. The upper surface of the leaves is medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower surface is pale green and glabrous. Two Plants in Bloom The inflorescence consists of a cylindrical panicle of flowers about ½-1½' in length. Within this inflorescence, the flowers are clustered together at intervals in pseudo-whorls (about 6-12 flowers per pseudo-whorl). Individual flowers are about ¾-1" long and across, consisting of a funnel-shaped white corolla that flares outward into 5 rounded lobes, a small green calyx with 5 ovate teeth, 5 stamens (one of them sterile), and a pistil with a single style. Tiny glandular hairs occur along the outside and inside of the corolla. The peduncles and pedicels of the flowers are either glabrous or glandular-hairy. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about 3 weeks. The flowers are replaced by ovoid seed capsules about 1/3" long; the latter eventually split open to release numerous small seeds. The root system consists of a crown with fibrous roots. Low basal leaves are usually present during winter dormancy. Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and loamy or rocky soil. Well-drained conditions are required to prevent root rot.
Range & Habitat: Trumpet Penstemon is uncommon in southern Illinois, and rare or absent in the rest of the state (see Distribution Map). Illinois lies near the northeast range-limit of this species. Habitats include meadows and openings in upland woodlands, oak savannas, thinly wooded bluffs, prairies, limestone glades, and prairie remnants along railroads. Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract long-tongued bees primarily: bumblebees, Anthophorine bees (Anthophora spp.), a Mason bee (Osmia distincta), and a wasp (Pseudomasaris occidentalis). The last two insects are oligoleges of Penstemon spp. (Penstemons). Other floral visitors include Green Metallic bees (collect pollen only) Swallowtail butterflies (suck nectar only), and the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (suck nectar only). Moth caterpillars that feed on Penstemons include Elaphria chalcedonia (Chalcedony Midget), Oncocnemis saudersiana (Saunder's Oncocnemis), and Pyrrhia exprimens (Purple-Lined Sallow). Mammalian herbivores apparently make little use of the foliage as a food source.
Photographic Location: A prairie in Fayette County, Illinois. The photographs were taken by Keith & Patty Horn (Copyright © 2010). Comments: Trumpet Penstemon is an elegant wildflower with an unusually long and slender inflorescence. In addition to these characteristics of its inflorescence, it differs from other Penstemon spp. (Penstemons) by the shape of its flowers (narrow and funnel-shaped at the base, rather than swollen), the large size and similarity of its corolla lobes, the lack of conspicuous leaves between the inflorescence and the leaves of the lower stem, the presence of tiny glandular hairs within its corolla, and the lack of hairs on its leaves and central stalk. Sometimes the scientific name of this species is spelled Penstemon tubiflorus (see Britton & Brown, 1913/1970).
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Miss Chen
2018年02月03日
Miss Chen
Description: This perennial wildflower is 1–2½' tall and unbranched. The erect central stem is pale green and terete; it is covered with short pubescence and scattered long hairs. The opposite leaves are up to 3¼" long and ¾" across; they are linear-lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong, pale green, and entire (toothless) to slightly dentate along their margins (if teeth are present, they are small and widely spaced). Both the lower and upper surfaces of the leaves are short-pubescent. The central stem terminates in a panicle of flowers that is 4-10" long; this panicle is taller than it is wide. Individual flowers are about ¾" long, consisting of a white corolla, a short calyx with 5 teeth, 4 stamens, and a pistil with a single style. The corolla is tubular-trumpet shaped, becoming broader toward its upper and lower lips. The upper lip has 2 short rounded lobes, while the lower lip has 3 short rounded lobes. The lower lip projects outward to a greater extent than the upper lip. Panicle of Flowers Along the bottom of the corolla's interior, there are 3 faint purple veins and a pair of low ridges. Toward the throat of the corolla on the bottom, there is a narrow patch of yellow hairs. The exterior of the corolla is slightly pubescent. The calyx is light green and pubescent. The stalks of the inflorescence and pedicels of the flowers are also light green (sometimes with purplish tints) and pubescent. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer, lasting about 3 weeks for a colony of plants. There is no noticeable floral scent. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by ovoid seed capsules about ¼" long or slightly longer. Each capsule contains numerous tiny seeds. Individual seeds are about 0.5 mm. in length or a little longer, triangular-ovoid and somewhat flattened in shape, and dark brown or black. Eventually, the capsules split in two to release their seeds; these seeds are small enough to be carried about by the wind. The root system consists of a crown with fibrous roots or a taproot.
Cultivation: Full to partial sun and mesic to dry conditions are preferred. Different kinds of soil are tolerated, including those containing clay-loam, sand, or rocky material. Reduced soil fertility is beneficial, because this reduces competition from taller and more aggressive plants. Range & Habitat: The native Pale Penstemon is occasional throughout Illinois, except in east-central and some northern areas of the state, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry rocky woodlands, hill prairies, dry-mesic railroad prairies, sandstone and limestone glades, upland savannas, thinly wooded bluffs, rocky cliffs, and abandoned fields. Occasional wildfires are beneficial in maintaining populations of this species, particularly in wooded habitats.
Faunal Associations: The flowers of Pale Penstemon are cross-pollinated primarily by long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), and mason bees (Hoplitis spp., Osmia spp.); see Crosswhite & Crosswhite (1966) and Clinebell & Bernhardt (1998). A mason bee, Osmia distincta, is an oligolege (specialist pollinator) of Penstemon spp. These insects obtain nectar and/or pollen from the flowers. Short-tongued Halictid bees also visit the flowers for pollen. Other insects feed destructively on the foliage, flowers, or fruits of Penstemon spp. These species include the caterpillars of such moths as the Chalcedony Midget (Elaphria chalcedonia), Saunder's Sallow Moth (Sympistis saundersiana), and a stem-gall forming Gracillariid moth (Caloptilia murtfeldtella); see Covell (1984/2005), Panzer et al. (2006), and the Microleps website (2010). A polyphagous aphid, Abstrusomyzus phloxae, sucks sap from these plants (Blackman & Eastop, 2013). Generally, most mammalian herbivores appear to avoid the consumption of the foliage of these plants. For example, Georgia (1913) has stated that the foliage of Foxglove Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) is rejected by cattle because it is unwholesome and bitter-tasting. However, Lindroth & Batzli (1984) have found that the young shoots of this same plant are readily eaten by the Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) in prairies.
Photographic Location: A small meadow at Busey Woods in Urbana, Illinois. Comments: Pale Penstemon is a reasonably attractive wildflower that blooms a little earlier than other Penstemon spp. It can be distinguished from these other species by its evenly pubescent foliage and the following characteristics of its corolla: 1) the lower interior surface is distinctively ridged, rather than flat or concave, 2) the lower lip extends significantly beyond the upper lip, and 3) the exterior is white, rather than pale rose-purple. Overall, Pale Penstemon is more dainty in appearance than its taller and more aggressive cousin, Foxglove Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis). Another common name of Penstemon pallidus is Pale Beardtongue (or Beardstongue), which refers to the yellow hairs that line the throat of the corolla.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月03日
Miss Chen
Description: This is a short-lived perennial plant that forms a basal rosette during its first year, after which it produces one or more flowering stalks about 1-3½' tall from a thick rootstock. The basal leaves (2-5" long and 1-3" across) are pale grayish green or bluish green, ovate to obovate in shape, smooth along their margins, and glabrous, tapering either gradually or abruptly into petioles. They have a rather succulent texture. The stems of flowering plants are whitish green to pale red, terete (circular in cross-section), glabrous, and somewhat glaucous. The leaves along these stems are arranged oppositely; they are 2-4" in length and 1-2½" across. These latter leaves are pale grayish green to bluish green, ovate to ovate-cordate in shape, smooth along their margins, and glabrous; their tips are blunt. The leaves of each lower stem are sessile, while the smaller upper leaves often clasp the stem. Like the basal leaves, the opposite leaves have a rather succulent texture. From the axils of opposite leafy bracts (up to 1¼" long and ¾" across), there develops pairs of 1-3 flowers on short slender pedicels, forming a narrow raceme about ½-1½' long. Each flower has a pinkish lavender corolla up to 2" long, a pale grayish green or bluish green calyx with 5 teeth, a pistil with a single white style, and 5 stamens. The corolla is tubular-trumpet shaped and slightly flattened; it has an upper lip with two rounded lobes and a lower lip with 3 rounded lobes. Within the throat of the corolla, there are fine purple veins that function as nectar guides. Along the upper outer surface of the corolla, there is a slender longitudinal ridge. The glabrous calyx is less than ½" in length; its teeth are lanceolate. The tip of the white style, where the stigma occurs, is slightly swollen. The leafy bracts of the flowers are similar in appearance to the opposite leaves, except they are smaller in size. Similar to the upper leaves, their bases clasp the stem. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer, lasting about 3 weeks. Each flower remains in bloom for only a short time. There is no floral scent. The flowers are replaced by ovoid seed capsules that are a little longer than the toothed calyx. Each capsule contains numerous small seeds. The seeds are distributed to a limited extent by the wind when the stems of flowering plants sway back and forth. The root system consists of a stout taproot with coarse secondary roots. This taproot extends deep into the soil.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, dry conditions, and poor soil containing rocky material or sand. This plant is easy to grow in locations that are sunny and well-drained, but it is rather short-lived. However, its seeds are fairly easy to germinate. Foliar disease is rarely troublesome; the biggest threat is root rot from poorly drained soil. Sometimes spider mites can be found on the foliage, but they appear to cause little damage. This plant has excellent drought resistance. Range & Habitat: The native Large-Flowered Penstemon occurs in only a few northern or NW counties in Illinois (see Distribution Map), where it is rare and state-listed as 'endangered.' This plant is more common in states that are located to the west of the Mississippi River. Habitats include dry sand prairies, dolomite prairies, and gravelly hill prairies. Because of the showy flowers, Large-Flowered Penstemon is more often found in flower gardens, from where it rarely escapes. Fire is supposed to be harmful to the ecological success of this plant because its growing buds remain above ground. In its natural habitat, significant wildfires rarely occur because of the sparse vegetative cover.
Faunal Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated by bumblebees and other long-tongued bees, including Osmia distincta and Synhalonia dubitata. These latter two bees appear to prefer the flowers of Penstemon spp. over other species. One long-tongued bee, Xylocopa virginica (Large Carpenter Bee), perforates the base of the corolla from the outside to rob nectar from Large-Flowered Penstemon. An unusual wasp, Pseudomaris occidentalis, is a specialist pollinator (oligolege) of Penstemon spp. Like many bees, this wasp uses nectar and pollen to feed its larvae. While the more western range of this wasp overlaps with the range of Large-Flowered Penstemon, it has not been observed in Illinois. Other floral visitors include pollen-seeking Halictid bees, masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), and Syrphid flies. Insects that feed destructively on the foliage and other parts of Penstemon spp. are uncommon, but they include the caterpillars of a moth, Elaphria chalcedonia (Chalcedony Midget), and Spharagemon collare (Mottled Sand Grasshopper). At the present time, information about the relationships between Large-Flowered Penstemon and vertebrate animals is unavailable.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois. The plants are an Illinois ecotype of this species from nursery-grown material. Comments: Both the foliage and flowers of Large-Flowered Penstemon are beautiful and distinctive. Unfortunately, the blooming period of the flowers is rather short, but you can't have everything. Because of its distinctive bluish foliage and large flowers (up to 2" in length), this species is easy to distinguish from other Penstemon spp. that are native to Illinois. However, a non-native species from the west, Penstemon cobaea (Showy Penstemon), is somewhat similar in appearance and its flowers are equally large in size. Unlike Large-Flowered Penstemon, this latter species has pubescent stems, while its upper leaves and bracts have bases that are sessile, rather than clasping. Showy Penstemon has naturalized in Kane County, Illinois.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月03日
Miss Chen
Description: Prior to developing an inflorescence, this perennial plant consists of one or more rosettes of basal leaves that are clustered together. They are medium green, sometimes with reddish tints. They are variable in shape, but tend to be ovate, obovate, or broadly lanceolate, and are up to 6" long and 2½" wide. Their margins are usually smooth. One or more flowering stalks emerge from the clustered rosettes during the spring, which are about 3' tall. They are hairless and light green, while the opposite leaves on these stalks are more lanceolate in shape than the basal leaves. Their edges often have tiny teeth, and the leaf surface is often shiny. The white flowers occur in a panicle at the top of each flowering stem, and bloom during late spring or early summer for about a month. They are tubular in shape and about 1" long, with the corolla divided into a lower lip with 3 lobes and and an upper lip with 2 lobes. Somtimes there are fine lines of violet within the corolla, which function as nectar guides to visiting insects. There is no floral scent. The entire plant is hairless, except on the outer surface of the flowers. The flowering stalk eventually turns dark brown, developing numerous oval seed capsules, each containing numerous seeds. These seeds are gray, finely pitted, and irregularly angled. This inflorescence eventually falls over are the seeds have formed, helping to distribute them, but the basal leaves remain. The small seeds can also be carried aloft by the wind for short distances. The root system has short rhizomes, which often produce new plantlets around the base. Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, average levels of moisture, and loamy soil. This plant matures quickly during the spring, and the flowering stalks often ascend above neighboring plants. It adapts well to cultivation, is not bothered by disease, and is easy to grow. Under severe drought conditions, however, the leaves may turn yellow and the plant will wilt.
Range & Habitat: The native Foxglove Penstemon occurs occasionally, except in some counties of central and NW Illinois, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). However, in other areas, it may be locally common. Habitats include mesic black soil prairies, openings in upland and floodplain forests, woodland borders, thickets, savannas, acid gravel seeps, pastures, and abandoned fields. Faunal Associations: The tubular flowers of this plant attract long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, Anthophorine bees, Miner bees, Mason bees, and large Leaf-Cutting bees. To a lesser extent, Halictid bees, butterflies, Sphinx moths, and hummingbirds may visit the flowers, but they are not effective pollinators. The caterpillars of the moth Elaphria chalcedonia (Chalcedony Midget) feed on the foliage of this and other beardtongues. There have been reports that the caterpillars of the butterfly Euphydryes phaeton (Baltimore) feed on the foliage of various beardtongues, but this does not appear to be the case in Illinois. The seeds are not often eaten by birds, nor is the foliage an attractive source of food to mammalian herbivores, although they may browse on it when little else is available.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois. Comments: This is probably the easiest Penstemon sp. to grow in areas that lie east of the Mississippi river. The flowers are quite showy, and the plant is large enough to compete against many kinds of weeds. Another desirable feature is that the blooming period is rather long for an early season plant. Foxglove Penstemon can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the absence of hairs on the leaves and stems, a corolla that is primarily white on the outer surface (but sometimes with violet tints), the presence of tiny white hairs on the anthers (resembling small combs), and an absence of ridges on the lower inner surface of the corolla. The small hairs on the anthers can lodge against the hairs of a visiting bee, causing the stamens to bend downward to deposit pollen on the back of the insect, if it is sufficiently large in size.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月03日
Miss Chen
Description: This perennial plant is ½–1' tall and unbranched. The foliage consists primarily of basal leaves up to 6" long and 2" across, which are arranged as a rosette. From the center of this rosette, emerges a stout flowering stalk, which is often covered with long white hairs. The stalk itself may be green or reddish brown. There are a few small leaves that alternate along this stem. The leaves are lanceolate or oblanceolate, with angular pinnate lobes and crenate margins. The margins have a tendency to undulate vertically. These characteristics provide the leaves with an almost fern-like appearance, except they are somewhat heavier and thicker. The flowers occur along a spike at the top of the stem. They are about ¾" long and tubular with two lips. The upper lip curves downward and functions as a protective hood, while the lower lip functions as a landing pad for insects. The flowers are usually yellow, but sometimes brownish red. The lower lip of the flower is often white. These flowers bloom from the bottom up during late spring; this blooming period lasts about 3 weeks. There is a mild floral fragrance that is not always detectable to the human nose, although bees and other insects can detect it. The flowers are replaced by large fruits that are angular and hairy. The root system consists of a taproot, and lateral roots that are parasitic on the roots of grasses and possibly other plants. Wood Betony, however, is capable of normal growth and development even when suitable host plants are unavailable. This plant often forms colonies by reseeding itself. Cultivation: The preference is partial to full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a somewhat acidic soil, which can be loamy or sandy. Most of the growth and development of this plant occurs during the spring, although the leaves stay green during the summer.
Range & Habitat: The native Woody Betony occurs occasionally in the northern half of Illinois, but it is uncommon or absent in the southern half of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, open woodlands and sandy woodlands, savannas and sandy savannas, thickets, and borders of lakes. This plant is often associated with the Black Oak in woodlands and savannas. Because of its parasitic habit, there is a tendency for the surrounding grass to be shorter in height than it would be normally, creating open areas along the ground where colonies of Wood Betony occur. Faunal Associations: Long-tongued bees are the primary visitors of the flowers, including queen bumblebees and Mason bees. Occasionally, short-tongued Halictid bees may visit the flowers to collect pollen, but they are non-pollinating. Little information is available about this plant's relationship to birds and mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a meadow of Orchid Hill in Vermilion County, Illinois, the Prospect Cemetery Prairie in Ford County, Illinois, and a rocky woodland of the Potholes in west-central Indiana. Comments: Wood Betony is very showy when it is in full bloom. Because of the unusual flowers and foliage, it has a striking appearance. There are other Pedicularis spp. that this plant resembles, however most of them don't occur in Illinois. An exception is Pedicularis lanceolata (Swamp Betony), which differs from Wood Betony by its greater height, leaves with shallower pinnate lobes, and preference for wetland habitats. The flowers of these two plants are very similar. Another common name for this plant is Lousewort, which was based on the mistaken belief that it could repel lice and similar parasites from livestock.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月03日
Miss Chen
Description: This perennial plant is about 2-3' tall while in flower. There is a rosette of basal leaves up to 6" long and 4" wide on long petioles. They are medium green, sandpapery in texture, coarsely serrated along the margins, and broadly lanceolate, ovate, or cordate. From the middle of this rosette, a stout flowering stalk develops, which has smaller alternate leaves on short petioles. Usually there are erect side stems that each develop an inflorescence. An inflorescence consists of flat-headed clusters of small white flowerheads; usually, there are several of them bunched loosely together on the same plant. Each flowerhead is about 1/3" (8 mm.) across, consisting primarily of numerous disk florets, while the few ray florets are greatly reduced in size and barely perceptible. The overall effect is similar to a head of cauliflower. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, and lasts about 2 months. There is no noticeable floral scent. Eventually, the flowerheads turn brown, and the achenes develop without tufts of hair. The central taproot is quite thickened and somewhat tuberous in appearance, while rhizomes promote the vegetative spread of this plant. Cultivation: The preference is full sun and mesic conditions. However, a small amount of shade is tolerated, and the soil can vary from moist to slightly dry. A fertile loamy soil is preferred, although the presence of some sand or rocky material is tolerated. While established plants are fairly easy to grow, recent transplants can be temperamental. It is important to put the transplants into the ground after danger of hard frost has passed, but before the period of active growth occurs during the late spring and early summer. Foliar disease isn't a significant problem. During a drought, some of the lower leaves may turn yellow and wither away. Range & Habitat: The native Wild Quinine occurs occasionally in the majority of counties in Illinois, however it is uncommon or absent in many areas of western and SE Illinois (see Distribution Map). In high quality habitats, Wild Quinine can be locally common, while in disturbed areas it is uncommon, possibly because of the limited dispersion of its seeds. Habitats include mesic black soil prairies, sand prairies, openings in rocky upland forests, savannas, scrubby barrens, limestone glades, and thickets.
Faunal Associations: The flowers attract Halictine bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and plant bugs. The beetles usually feed on pollen, while the other insects seek nectar primarily. The fly visitors include Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Flesh flies, Muscid flies, Anthomyiid flies, and others. Wasp visitors include Crabronine wasps, Eumenine wasps, Cuckoo wasps, Braconid wasps, and others. Mammalian herbivores appear to ignore this plant as a food source because the leaves are sandpapery in texture and bitter-tasting. Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at a remnant prairie along an abandoned railroad in Champaign County, Illinois, and the webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments: Don't be put off by the lack of conspicuous ray florets on the flowerheads – they are still quite showy, resembling small white pearls from a distance. The leaves are admittedly rather coarse, but they possess characteristics that help this plant to survive in the prairie (as well as one's flower garden). Because of the unique flowerheads, this plant can be confused with no other species in Illinois; there are some close relatives that occur in other states, however. Wild Quinine was used as a substitute for the bark of the Cinchona tree during World War I, when the supply of the latter was disrupted; this was an attempt to maintain the supply of quinine to treat malaria.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月02日
Miss Chen
Description: This wildflower is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant that is ½–1' tall when it blooms. The basal leaves persist during most of the year, although they may die down during the winter. They are ¾-2" long, ½-1" across, broadly elliptic to oval-obovate in shape, and either finely serrated or slightly dentate along their margins. The slender petioles of the basal leaves are ½-1" long and light green; they often have cobwebby hairs. The blade surface of the basal leaves is medium green and sparsely covered with mealy hairs. Unbranched flowering stalks develop among the basal leaves. These stalks are light green, terete to slightly channeled, and more or less covered with cobwebby hairs. Alternate leaves are sparsely distributed along each flowering stalk; they are up to 1¼" long and ¼" across. The alternate leaves are medium green, narrowly pinnatifid, and more or less covered with cobwebby hairs, particularly along the lower side of their central veins and along their petioles. The central stalk terminates in a flat-headed cluster of 3-12 flowerheads. Each daisy-like flowerhead is about ½" across, consisting of 8-14 ray florets surrounding numerous disk florets that are yellow or golden yellow. The petaloid rays of the flowerheads are yellow and narrowly oblong. Around the base of each flowerhead, there are light green floral bracts (phyllaries) that are arranged together in a single series. They are oblong-linear in shape and more or less covered with cobwebby hairs. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring, lasting about 3-4 weeks. The flowerheads are mildly fragrant. About a month after the blooming period, the achenes mature, developing tufts of white hairs; they are dispersed by the wind. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Prairie Ragwort often forms clonal colonies from its rhizomes.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, sand, or gravelly material. Prairie Ragwort tends to favor less fertile soil because of the reduced competition from other plants. The basal leaves are semi-evergreen and they have few problems with disease. Range & Habitat: The native Prairie Ragwort occurs primarily in the northern half of Illinois and in counties that are located along major rivers. It is occasional to locally common in the northern and western sections of the state, while elsewhere it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland prairies, gravel prairies, sand prairies, hill prairies, bluffs overlooking major rivers, openings in either rocky or sandy upland forests, sandy savannas, limestone glades, and roadside embankments. This little plant is usually found in open grassy areas. It blooms during the spring before the warm-season prairie grasses have achieved much growth.
Faunal Associations: Flies and small bees are the most common visitors to the flowers. Among the bee visitors, are little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees (Augochlorella spp., Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), and Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), including the oligolectic bee Andrena gardineri. Other floral visitors include Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, thick-headed flies, skippers, and small butterflies. These insects are attracted to the nectar and pollen of the flowers. Polyphagous caterpillars of the moth Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) feed on the foliage of ragworts (Packera spp.); this moth dies out in Illinois during the winter, but it rapidly repopulates the state from the south when warm weather returns. Ragworts are preferred host plants of the seed bug, Neacoryphus bicrucis. The foliage is highly toxic to mammalian herbivores, especially cattle, and to a lesser extent horses and sheep. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver and cause other health problems.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois. Comments: This is a perky little plant with bright yellow flowerheads. Among the various ragworts (Packera spp.) in Illinois, Prairie Ragwort is the most drought tolerant. It also has more cobwebby hairs on its flowering stalks and leaves than other ragworts, although these hairs gradually disappear after the blooming period. A scientific synonym of Prairie Ragwort is Senecio plattensis. The 'ragwort' in the common name probably refers to the ragged appearance of alternate leaves on the flowering stalks.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月02日
Miss Chen
Description: This perennial wildflower consists of a small rosette of basal leaves spanning 2-4" across, from which there develops a single stalk of flowerheads about 6-14" tall. The basal leaves are 1½-3" long and ½-¾" across (at least twice as long as across); they are oblong-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate in shape and crenate-serrate along their margins. The teeth along the margins have blunt tips and they vary in size from large and coarse to small and fine. The upper and lower surfaces of the basal leaves are medium green and glabrous (or nearly so); young basal leaves are sometimes sparsely hairy or white-mealy. The petioles of the basal leaves are about one-half the length of the blades and relatively narrow; they are light green to pale purple and glabrous. The central stalk is light green to purple and glabrous (or nearly so); sometimes it has sparse cobwebby hairs toward the bottom. Along this stalk, there are 2-4 alternate leaves; they are up to 2½" long and ½" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the stalk. The alternate leaves are narrowly lanceolate-oblong, pinnatifid with cleft lobes, and/or coarsely dentate along their margins; they are sessile. The upper and lower surfaces of the alternate leaves are medium green and glabrous. The central stalk terminates in a flat-headed panicle of 5-30 flowerheads. Each daisy-like flowerhead spans about ½-¾" across, consisting of 40 or more disk florets and 8-13 ray florets (rarely none); the disk and ray florets are both perfect and fertile. The corollas of the disk florets are deep golden yellow, cylindrical in shape, and 5-lobed. The petaloid extensions of the ray florets are yellow and linear-oblong in shape. Around the base of each flowerhead, there are several phyllaries (floral bracts) in a single series; they are about ¼" long. These phyllaries are linear in shape, glabrous, and mostly light green, except toward their tips, where they become pale purple. The branches and peduncles of the inflorescence are light green to pale purple and glabrous; there are often tiny bractlets where they diverge. These bractlets are scale-like and purple. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer, lasting about 3 weeks. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by small achenes with sessile tufts of white hair. These achenes are 1-2 mm. long and bullet-shaped. The root system consists of a short crown of fibrous roots and occasional rhizomes or stolons. Occasionally, clonal colonies of plants are produced from the rhizomes or stolons. Cultivation: The preference is full or partial sun, moist conditions, and soil containing loam, sandy loam, or rocky material. Most growth and development occurs during the spring. The basal leaves persist throughout the warmer months into winter.
Range & Habitat: The native Balsam Ragwort is occasional in the northern half of Illinois, becoming rare or absent in the southern half of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include moist sand prairies, prairie remnants along railroads, sedge meadows, streambanks, moist sandy savannas, open woodlands, and abandoned fields. Areas with low ground vegetation and some history of disturbance are preferred. Faunal Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowerheads attract a variety of small to medium-sized insects, including cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), Halictid bees, Andrenid bees, Syrphid flies, small butterflies and skippers, and miscellaneous beetles. An Andrenid bee, Andrena gardineri, is a specialist pollinator (oligolege) of Packera spp. (ragworts). Some insects feed on the foliage or seeds of ragworts. These species include caterpillars of the moth Agonopterix canadensis (Canadian Agonopterix) and the seed bug Neacoryphus bicrucis. The foliage of ragworts is toxic to most mammalian herbivores, causing liver damage. Photographic Location: Along a bike path through a sand prairie at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in NW Indiana.
Comments: As compared to the similar Prairie Ragwort (Packera plattensis), this ragwort prefers habitats that are more moist. Balsam Ragwort differs from the former species by its glabrous foliage and more narrow basal leaves. The basal leaves of other perennial ragworts (Packera spp.) in Illinois have basal leaves that are more broad. However, across its range, Balsam Ragwort is rather variable, possibly because of hybridization with similar species. The perennial ragworts in Illinois all bloom during the spring or early summer and they have showy yellow flowerheads. The annual and biennial ragworts in Illinois are mostly from Eurasia and they have less showy flowerheads. An exception is the native Butterweed (Packera glabella). This latter species is usually taller than the perennial ragworts and it lacks their conspicuous basal leaves during the blooming period. A scientific synonym of Balsam Ragwort is Senecio pauperculus; another common name of this species is Northern Ragwort.
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Miss Chen
2018年02月02日
Miss Chen
Description: This perennial plant is up to 6" tall. It consists of a small cluster of trifoliate basal leaves on long petioles that emerge directly from the ground. The petioles of the basal leaves are up to 4" long; they are whitish green to pale reddish green, terete, glabrous, and rather delicate in appearance. Individual trifoliate leaves are about 1" across and they open up during the day. Each leaf consists of three obcordate leaflets with smooth margins. The leaves may turn purplish in response to cold weather or strong sunlight, otherwise, they tend to be greyish green. Both the upper and lower leaflet surfaces are hairless. Close-up of Flower Among these leaves, floppy umbels of flowers develop on peduncles up to 6" long. The peduncles are similar in appearance to the petioles. Each umbel has 2-5 flowers on slender pedicels up to 1" long; usually only 1-2 flowers per umbel are in bloom at the same time. The flowers are bell-shaped (campanulate) and about 1/3" (8 mm.) across. Each flower has 5 lavender or pale purple petals, 5 light green sepals, 5 inserted stamens with yellow anthers, and an ovary with an inserted style. Near the throat of the flower, the petals become greenish white with converging fine veins; they are oblanceolate in shape, often becoming slightly recurved toward their tips. The sepals are shorter than the petals; they are lanceolate in shape and hairless with purplish tips. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer, lasting about 1-2 months. On rare occasions, Violet Wood Sorrel may bloom again during the fall. There is no floral scent. Eventually, slender pointed seed capsules develop that split into 5 sections, sometimes ejecting the light brown seeds several inches. The root system consists of small bulblets with fibrous roots; these bulblets can multiply by forming clonal offsets. Cultivation: The preference is full to partial sun and mesic to dry conditions. The soil can be rocky or loamy. Disease is not normally a problem as long as the site is well-drained. Violet Wood Sorrel can be cultivated in gardens if taller and more aggressive vegetation is kept away.
Range & Habitat: The native Violet Wood Sorrel occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is occasional throughout the state. Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, hill prairies, open upland forests, savannas, edges of wooded bluffs, limestone glades, and abandoned fields. Violet Wood Sorrel responds positively to prairie wildfires as this clears away the dead vegetation that can smother this plant during the spring. It is usually found in higher quality natural areas where the original ground flora has been left intact. Faunal Associations: Primarily long-tongued and short-tongued bees visit the flowers for nectar or pollen. This includes little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp., Hoplitis spp.), Andrenid bees, and Halictid bees (including green metallic bees). Less commonly, the flowers may be visited by small butterflies, skippers, and bee flies. Syrphid flies also visit the flowers, but they feed on the pollen and are non-pollinating. The oligophagous caterpillars of a brownish Noctuid moth, Galgula partita (The Wedgling), feed on the leaflets of Oxalis spp. The seeds of Oxalis spp. are eaten to a limited extent by several upland gamebirds and songbirds, including the Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, Horned Lark, Field Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, and Slate-Colored Junco. The Prairie Deer Mouse and White-Footed Mouse also eat the seeds of these plants. The Cottontail Rabbit browses on the foliage occasionally, even though it is mildly toxic because of the presence of oxalic acid.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at Loda Cemetery Prairie in Iroquois County, Illinois. Comments: In Illinois, this is the only Oxalis sp. (Wood Sorrel) that has lavender or pale purple flowers. Other Wood Sorrel species within the state have yellow flowers. Both the flowers and leaves open up on sunny days, otherwise they fold up and "go to sleep." Violet Wood Sorrel is an attractive plant, although rather small in size. The leaflets are supposed to be edible in small amounts.
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